Related Pages

Match Preview

Newport (h) Preview

Bridgend Ravens have named a much-changed backline for their
clash with Newport at the Riverside Hardware Brewery Field on Saturday
06th October (KO 2.30pm).

Ospreys fly-half
Matthew Morgan will take the field for the Ravens for the first time
since 2010, after spending the last two seasons at Swansea. Tom Grabham
will also play his first game of the season for the Ravens as he returns
from Ospreys duty whilst veteran centre Steve Winn slots in at 12.

Nathan
Edwards comes in at outside centre and Chris Williams starts at
scrum-half, meaning the only backs to remain in the starting XV from
last weekend's loss to Carmathen Quins are Luke Morgan and Jamie Murphy.

The
visitors this weekend are Newport and the Black & Ambers have also
had a tough start to their season. Indeed, the men from Rodney Parade
have conceded the most points in the Premiership and only sit higher
than the Ravens thanks to two tight three-point victories away to
Aberavon and Carmathen Quins.

Home fans will be excited to see the
return to the side of fly-half Morgan who has notched up 156 points for
the Ospreys in his three seasons attached to the club. The Reading-born
number 10 has only played a total of 80 minutes in four appearances in
the RaboDirect PRO12 this season so should have plenty of energy to
inject in to the Ravens' attack. Morgan also has 14 appearances for the
Wales U20 side, scoring 134 points in the process and the 5'8” fly-half
should receive a warm welcome home, as he developed locally through
Brynteg Comprehensive, Pencoed College and Bridgend Athletic.

Ravens'
backs coach and former Newport player Dan Griffiths is looking forward
to facing his old team-mates and coaches at the Riverside Hardware
Brewery Field:

“We are focused on getting the show back on the
road. After a tough week's training, we want to move forward and I want
the bragging rights in the bar after the game! It's always a
great experience to play against Newport, a club that is obviously close
to my heart and has given me so many fond memories. It's good to see a
few of the 'old heads' in the squad, including good friends Dai Pattison
and Sam Waldron who I played alongside in the Premiership winning side
of 2003/4.

I wish Newport the very best for the season, starting from the final whistle on Saturday!”